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Small Group Notes Spring 2018

Living in Light and LoveStudies on 1 John

Written by Donald Campbell, Aileen Healey, Deb & Sam Lyden

An explanation of these notes

1 John is a letter from the writer of the gospel of John and most scholars believe it is one of the later letters of the New Testament which was sent to a number of Churches, from John in Ephesus, where he was believed to have lived after leaving Jerusalem.

A new addition this time is a song you might like to play in the background or as part of the icebreaker to link into one of the themes,

We know a lot of these studies are passed around for others to do, so pass on this page with each study to help both inexperienced leaders and experienced ones! Please note; this is not the finished study, you will need to look at the material and add, edit, and adapt it for your group. There should be more than enough material – too much if you try to use it all!

As with all our notes, The aims of these studies are ... To hear God through the Bible and discussion. To encourage the application of faith to real life and prompt meaningful worship and prayer. To develop service within the group. To enable practical support for one another by aiding the building of supportive relationships.

You should have other special events within your programme other than these studies.

Ensure you have read and understand the main passage(s) of scripture for the week, along with the context, and think about other scriptures that might be relevant to the theme of the study. You might find it helpful to do the personal devotion first if they have been released on the internet http://www.scbc.org.uk.. Spend time praying for the session and those who are part of your group.

We find it helpful to suggest this skeleton pattern for the studies but pick, choose, and add your own material within the headings and themes.

Start each session with a prayer, asking God, by His Holy Spirit to meet with you and teach you His ways. Pray too that each member of the group would be open and ready to hear God speak to them.

Time to share from last time – a chance to reflect on what we have done since the last meeting; gathering lessons learnt, experience gained, benefits felt and prayers answered

Something to break the ice – an easier activity to get people talking, involve everybody, raise interest in the subject, enable people to relax while building relationships and knowledge of each other.

Getting to grips with the passage – Some groups will have better studies if the group themselves create the topics for discussion so we offer this model as alternative way to do study the passage. The group is encouraged to read the passage and note what encourages, challenges or Raises Questions.. This can then be the basis discussion for of the rest of the evening. However, this will not work for some groups or the whole of some evenings so other questions are offered.

Understanding the text: Key ideas to understand – The following questions are designed to make people think about the meaning of the passage and how their lives are affected by it. They will be important questions to ask if they haven’t been raised in the time above.

Applying the text: Key questions to ask – It is important that the study is not just an intellectual exercise but a potentially life changing discussion, so these key questions are to enable the group to support and understand each other better as they apply God’s word to their life.

Optional extras – Questions and thoughts to go deeper – We understand that not everyone is able to have time to edit the multitude of questions asked, and so just want the essentials, whereas some groups and leaders do want additional material to go deeper. This section offers some other areas of discussion.

Ways to pray together - ideas for praying for each other and responding to God in worship. This section is vital. Whatever has gone on before we need to leave time for this. Start by recalling answers to prayer from the previous time.

Practical tips for the Study Leader

Facilitate the hearing of God through the study by ensuring the group goes beyond the meaning of a passage and into how it affects us. Ask open ended questions with many possible answers, which cause the group to think, rather than simply test their knowledge.

Seek real answers, not glib ones. Do this by leading the way in openness, dig beneath the surface by asking supplementary questions such as ‘why?’. Create a safe environment so that people feel confident enough to be honest and address difficult questions. Avoid discussions that embarrass or condemn individuals. Make lists of answers which can then be discussed one item at a time. Try using a board or large sheet of paper with pens to jot contributions down on. Encourage others to give other answers once one answer has been given, so as to gain different perspectives and encourage wider contribution. There is rarely only one

answer. Think about your answers beforehand, but do not expect to just get your answers, encourage debate. Allow digression and exploration where you sense the Holy Spirit at

work. Do not be afraid of silence as people think of their response, or debate where people shape their views through disagreement. Stop yourself and others dominating the

meeting with standard answers. There are various ways you as a group can read the Bible passages – try and vary what you do:

Read them individually in silence; Read them through as a group, with 1 person reading aloud; Read them through as a group with 2 people reading them from different translations; Go around the group with everyone reading 1 or 2 verses; Ask for volunteers to read.

1. Fellowship with God and His people, Proclaiming Eternal Life.Time to share from last time

A chance to reflect on what we have done since the last meeting; gathering lessons learnt, experience gained, benefits felt and prayers answered.

Something to break the ice

Can you describe to the group a remarkable place you have visited – what did you see, hear and feel?By way of background or to stimulate ideas you could play Blind Boys Of Alabama – ‘Just Wanna See His Face’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sVoVAIAAf4

Getting to grips with the passage

Read the passage and ask the group to note what … Encourages … Challenges … Raises Questions.Spend time discussing these ideas.

If time and if needed, then move on to using these ideas below, ensuring there is enough time at the end to use the prayer ideas.

Passage Understanding the text:Key ideas to understand

Applying the text:Key questions to ask

Optional extras – Questions and thoughts to

go deeper1 John 1 1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched - this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2 The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us.

What is John proclaiming?

What is significant about John saying he touched ‘That which was in the beginning’?

Why is Jesus called the ‘word of life’?What does this title tell us about Jesus?

What is eternal life?

How does the ‘Word of life’ impact your life?

How can we proclaim eternal life?

If we believe in eternal life, what is the point of living on earth now?

3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We write this to make our joy complete.

What does the word fellowship imply? (for help see New Year sermons)

The Greek word for fellowship, koinonia, is the same word used to describe marriage relationships and business partnerships. In what ways might this change, or deepen, our understanding of fellowship?

Why would such fellowship bring complete joy?

Why does John emphasise his personal experience in seeing, hearing, looking andtouching?

What is the importance of first hand testimony today?

How do you feel about that in terms of our sharing of the gospel?

What can we share that we have seen and

What is fellowship with the Father and the Son?

How are fellowship with each other and fellowship with God linked?How could we deepen our fellowship with one another?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sVoVAIAAf4

heard of Jesus?Who might we share this with?

How can we have fellowship and partner with others in talking of Jesus? What help can we give others to proclaim faith, what help can we receive?

Prayer

Pray for those on our hearts who we would like to see become Christians.

Pray that we would be able to proclaim eternal life.

Here is a statement of faith based on 1 John, you might to read it out or get people to say it as part of your prayers and as a taster for the series.

God is light; in him there is no darkness at all...If we claim to be without sin we deceive ourselves...But...we have one who speaks to the Father in our defence;-Jesus Christ, the Righteous One...you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins... in him is no sin...He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world...If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness...your sins have been forgiven on account of His name...How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!...This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through him...This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us...This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins...And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in Them...In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgement...There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment...And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son... He who has the Son has life.

1 John 1v5,1v8,2v1,2v2,1v9,2v12,3v1,4v9,3v16,4v10,4v16,4v17, 4v18,5v11,5v12

2. Walking in the lightTime to share from last time



Describe a time when you have been in real darkness without a light. How did you feel? What difference would a light have made?Why is the symbol of light and darkness so powerful?By way of background or to stimulate ideas you could play ‘Shine Your Light On Us’ by Robbie Seay Band https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jib8_vjLvmY






Optional extras – Questions and thoughts to go deeper

1 John 1 5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.

What does it mean that God is light?

What does it mean that there is no darkness in God?

What does God being like light, have to say to about evil, fear, confusion, or ignorance?

In what kind of situations is it important to remind ourselves that God is light with no darkness?How does this truth help us?

In what current situations, do we need to see the light of God?

How do we understand this verse when we see great evil taking place in the world, and prayers seem unanswered?

6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

What is walking in darkness?What examples can we give?

What is walking in light?

How does the blood of Jesus purify us?

Which tells us most about people, what they say, or what they do? Why?

In what ways are we drawn into walking in darkness?

How do we walk in the light?

How do we access the purification of Jesus?

What difference does His purification make?

Why is there a temptation to claim closeness to God, when our lives are far from it?

How do we help people to be honest and not make such false claims?

PrayerPray for those on our hearts who we would like to see become Christians.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jib8_vjLvmY

Place a light or candle in the centre of the group, use it to mediate on, and prompt prayers of worship.

Read or hand out these verses to meditate on

Isaiah 9:1 There will be no more gloom for those who were in distress... 2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.

Isaiah 42:16 I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and

make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.Isaiah 50:10 Let those who walk in the dark, who have no light, trust in the name of the LORD and rely on their GodIsaiah 60: 19 The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. 20 Your sun will never set again, and your moon will wane no more; the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your days of sorrow will end.

John 8:12 Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Pray for those in darkness, that they might see and grasp God as light.

3. Finding complete love for GodTime to share from last time A chance to reflect on what we have done since the last meeting; gathering lessons learnt, experience gained, benefits felt and prayers answered.

Something to break the iceHow would describe a perfect person? (don’t say Jesus!) By way of background or to stimulate ideas you could play Ed Sheeran – ‘Perfect’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkXgj9XKg6MAnd/or place this list of qualities in order of importance to you.Generosity Compassion Honesty Patience Humility Wisdom Sense of Humour Empathy Articulate Gentle Attractive

Getting to grips with the passageRead the passage and ask the group to note what … Encourages … Challenges … Raises Questions.Spend time discussing these ideas.





1 John 1 8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.

What is sin?

Why is confession needed for forgiveness?

Why is faithfulness important in forgiveness?

How can it be just to forgive our sins?

How do we deceive ourselves about sin?

What do we find difficult about confession?

How does the group handle confession practically?

What does our denial or confession of sin reveal about the reality of our relationship with God?

1 John 21 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father - Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

What is an advocate?

What does atoning mean?

What does it mean for Jesus to be our advocate? How does that make us feel?

How can these verses affect our feelings when we feel despondent with guilt and shame?

Why is it important that Jesus’s sacrifice is for the whole world?

How do we balance the aspiration and desire not to sin, with an honesty about our sinfulness? What dangers are there in emphasising the command not to sin or in emphasising our inability to not sin?

3 We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. 4 Those who say, “I know him,” but do not do what he commands are liars, and the truth is not in them. 5 But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in

What is the word and command of God?

How do we reconcile 1v10 and 2v4?

How is it possible to feel we know God yet tolerate sin in our lives?

How do you feel about having complete love for God? What does this look like?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkXgj9XKg6M

him: 6 Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.

Why is knowing God and obeying him so closely linked?Why can’t a person know God and not do what he commands?

How does obedience enable us to know God’s love?In what ways or areas do we struggle to be obedient?

How can we be more obedient?7 Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard. 8 Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and in you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining.

In what ways is the command old?

In what ways is the command new?

9 Those who claim to be in the light but hate a fellow believer are still in the darkness. 10 Those who love their fellow believers live in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. 11 But those who hate a fellow believer are in the darkness and walk around in the darkness; they do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them.

Why is it important to God that Christians love each other?

In what ways does hate blind us?

How do we express love for Christians who annoy us?

PrayerPray for those on our hearts who we would like to see become Christians.Spend some time in confession. Here are two confessions, you might like to use one of them as a something to reflect on.

Jesus, forgive my sins.Forgive the sins that I can remember and also the sins I have forgotten.Forgive the wrong actions I have committed and the right actions I have omitted.Forgive the times I have been weak in the face of temptation

and those when I have been stubborn in the face of correction.Forgive the times I have been proud of my own achievements

and those when I have failed to boast of your works.Forgive the harsh judgements I have made of others

and the leniency I have shown myself.Forgive the lies I have told to others and the truths I have avoided.Forgive the pain I have caused others and the indulgence I have shown myself.Jesus have pity on me, and make me whole.

From Celtic Fire, Robert Van der Weyer (Unattributed)

Sorry, Lord – for the shabbiness of my LIVINGfor the shoddiness of my WORKINGfor the shallowness of my PRAYINGfor the selfishness of my GIVINGfor the fickleness of my FEELINGfor the faithlessness of my SPEAKINGfor the dullness of my HEARINGfor the grudgingness of my SHARING for the slothfulness of my THINKINGfor the slowness of my SERVINGfor the coldness of my LOVING

Ray Simpson

4. Overcoming the worldTime to share from last time



What’s your favourite film where good triumphs over evil?By way of background or to stimulate ideas you could play ‘We shall overcome’ -Bruce Springsteen and the Seeger Sessions Band https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqT9yegqoRk






Optional extras – Questions and

thoughts to go deeper1 John 2 12 I am writing to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name. 13 I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young people, because you have overcome the evil one. 14 I write to you, dear children, because you know the Father. I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young people, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

John writes a little poetic piece for effect.

What is the difference between the word to the old and the word to the young?What does this teach us?

How might each group of John’s readers have been encouraged by His words?

What does it mean to know God?

What is the evidence that word of God lives in us?

What does it mean to overcome the evil one?

Where are each of us on this age scale and what can this teach us to appreciate and learn from in others within our group/church who are a different age?

How do we overcome the evil one?

15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If you love the world, love for the Father is not in you. 16 For everything in the world - the cravings of sinful people, the lust of their eyes and their boasting about what they have and do - comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

What is the ‘world’? Make a list of ideas.

How does the world differ from the will of God?

What love of the ‘world’ is damaging?Why?

What negative aspects of the ‘world’ are we tempted to love?

Why Is it not possible to love God and love the world in this sense?How can we as a group encourage each other to keep faithful in ‘doing the will of God’?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqT9yegqoRk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqT9yegqoRk

Are there particular things people find difficult that they want to share so others can pray and encourage them? (Probably only do this if you as a leader have something to start with)

PrayerPray for those on our hearts who we would like to see become Christians.Share together the temptations from the world we struggle to overcome and then pray for each other.

A prayer based on scripture to help us focus on the spiritual realities rather than the world’s realities;Lift up your eyes to the heavens, look at the earth beneath; the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment and its inhabitants die like flies.All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever.We believe the world and its desires will pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever. Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

5. Recognising DeceptionTime to share from last time



Do any remember hearing of children who were told that when the ice-cream van plays a song it means it has run out of ice cream so don’t bother coming out! What have you been told earlier in life, that you believed but turned out to be a lie? How did you feel when you discovered you had been misled?By way of background or to stimulate ideas you could play The Proclaimers – ‘Beautiful Truth’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVUirJgW0oI






Optional extras – Questions and

thoughts to go deeper1 John 2 18 Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.

What does John mean by the ‘last hour’?

Reading through this chapter - what is an antichrist according to John?

What is the difference between an antichrist and a mislead Christian?

20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth. 21 I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth. 22 Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Messiah. Such a person is the antichrist - denying the Father and the Son. 23 No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also.

v20 &27 What do you understand by ‘the anointing’?

Why is believing Jesus is the messiah important?

How do we recognise those who deceive others?

How do we help those who are deceived?

What are the big spiritual deceptions that mislead people today?

What can we learn from the passage to help us not to be led astray?

24 As for you, see that what you have heard from v24 How can we make sure what we’ve v27 If we don’t need

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVUirJgW0oI

the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is what he promised us - eternal life. 26 I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray. 27 As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit - just as it has taught you, remain in him. 28 And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming. 29 If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him.

heard remains in us?

v27 How do we remain in Jesus?

v28 How do we feel about Jesus coming back? Why might we feel nervous/unsure/fearful?

How can being promised eternal life make us different from those without this hope?

anyone to teach us - why listen to sermons?

Prayer

Pray for those on our hearts who we would like to see become Christians.Pray for the Church throughout the world not to be deceived by false teaching, pray for our own learning that we can discern the word of God from that of an anti Christ

O God you are lightAnd in you there is no darkness at all,Give us graceNo longer to walk in darkness,But to walk in the light,To live by the truthTo have fellowship with you,And with one another,Purified from all sinBy the blood of your SonJesus Christ our Lord.From 1 John 1 v5-7

6. Children of God

Time to share from last time



As an adult, what do you miss about being a childBy way of background or to stimulate ideas you could play Bob Dylan – ‘Forever Young’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Frj2CLGldC4






1 John 3 1 See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

What does it mean to be a child of God?

What are the benefits for us of being a Child of God?

Why is being a child of God be an expression of lavished love?

How do you feel about being a child of God?

How does or could being His child affect daily living?

In what ways do we experience the world not knowing us?

2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 3 All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure

How will we be like Jesus? Why does looking forward to meeting Jesus inspire us to be pure?

How do we purify ourselves?

How do we help those who child experiences of their parents were negative and can now inhibit understanding God as a Father

4 Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. 5 But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin. 6 No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.

What is the difference between a Christian who sins and someone who ‘keeps on sinning’ and therefore does not know God?

7 Dear children, do not let anyone lead you What does John say should What can we do if we want to

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Frj2CLGldC4

astray. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. 8 The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. 9 Those who are born of God will not continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God. 10 This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Those who do not do what is right are not God’s children; nor are those who do not love their brothers and sisters.

characterise children of God? love and serve God, but keep on falling into a certain sin, which we enjoy at the time, but feel ashamed of?

How does being a Child of God affect our feelings about sin?

Prayer

Pray for those on our hearts who we would like to see become Christians.Pray for those who struggle to see God as Father.Pray for those orphaned, who grieve the loss of a Father.

Allow these verses to be part of your prayer and worship together.

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us,That we should be called Children of God.How precious, O God is your constant love!We find protection under the shadow of your wingsThe Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in lovehe does not treat us as our sins deserveGive thanks to the Lord for he is good;His love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods;His love endures for everGive thanks to the Lord of lords;His love endures forever‘Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed,yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken, nor my covenant of peace broken’ Declares the LordMay your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord,as we put our hope in you1 John 3v1, Psalm 36v7, Psalm 103 v8,10, Psalm 136v1, Isaiah 54v10, Psalm 33v22

7. Love for othersTime to share from last time



While you listen to Nat King Cole – ‘L.O.V.E’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JErVP6xLZwg get people in the group to come up with an acronym for LOVE where each letter is either a thing that they love or a quality of love – then share with each other.







1 John 3 11 For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. 12 Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous.

Can the group share some of the greatest acts of love they have experienced or witnessed?

What are the costly but important ways to love … in the family? in the workplace? in the church?

What aspect of loving others do you find hardest to fulfil?Why do you think this is?How can we help each other to love others?

Look at Genesis 4. Cain envied Abel, how does envy stop us loving others?What do we envy in others?

13 Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death. 15 Anyone who hates a fellow believer is a murderer, and you know that no murderers have eternal life in them.

How do we experience the hatred of the world for loving?

16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ Why is Christ’s death on the How can we lay down our lives for

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JErVP6xLZwg

laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for one another.

cross the supreme act of love? others?

17 If any one of you has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in you? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.

What stops us loving practically those in need? How can we overcome these obstacles?

If the need is caused by wrong decisions, are we excused from helping? Explain your answers?Is God excused from helping us if we contributed to our own problems?

Prayer

Pray for those on our hearts who we would like to see become Christians.Pray for the Church, that we may have a deeper sense of unity and love for each other.

Lord,Make me an instrument of your peace.Where there is hatred,

let me sow love;Where there is injury,

let me sow pardon;Where there is doubt,

let me sow faith;Where there is despair,

let me sow hope;Where there is darkness,

let me sow light;Where there is sadness,

let me sow joy;O divine master, grant thatI may not so much seek to be consoled

as to console;not so much seek to be understood,

as to understand;not so much seek to be loved,

as to love.For it is in giving that we receive;it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.Adapted from a prayer by Francis of Assisi

8. Confidence with God

Time to share from last time



What situations make you feel nervous?Are there situations that you feel confident in, that others can find nerve wracking?







1 John 3 19 This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence: 20 If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 21 Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God 22 and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him.

What does a heart at rest look like?

What does it mean that God is ‘greater than our hearts’?

How does the context of ‘receiving whatever we ask’ tell us what this means?

How do we rest in God’s presence?

How do our hearts condemn us?

How can we have confidence before God?

How can these verses help us if we have times of doubting?

How should we react when we do not receive ‘anything we ask’? How do we maintain our confidence in God in this situation?

23 And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.

The name of God is the reputation and character of God, signified by each name.What do ‘Son’, ‘Jesus’ and ‘Christ‘ all mean?(Be careful to understand that Son means ‘of God’ not ‘separate to God’

Looking at the meaning of the name of Jesus, what does it mean to believe in this name?

How does belief in Jesus give us confidence in God?

How does loving others give us confidence in God?

Why do we need both? What happens if we opt for only one?

24 Those who keep his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.

What is the significance of the Spirit living within us?

How does the Spirit give us confidence?Based on today’s passage, how

would you encourage someone who lacked assurance that they were really a Christian?

1 John 41 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.

What tests does John give us in these verses to discern whether teaching/ideas are from the world or from God?

What/who are the false prophets of our time?Why do Christians need to be discerning?

4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 5 They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.

When are we tempted into feeling that the world is greater than God?

When we are suffering, what does it mean that the Spirit of God within us is greater?

How can John assert that the believers have overcome the false prophets, as they clearly still existed? How can we overcome today’s false prophets?

Prayer

Pray for those on our hearts who we would like to see become Christians.Pray for those suffering, that they have a sense that the Spirit of God is stronger.As a reflection for prayer, you might like to play ‘Scarecrow’ - Jason Upton https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahfARSkWuEM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahfARSkWuEM

9. Loved first by GodTime to share from last time A chance to reflect on what we have done since the last meeting; gathering lessons learnt, experience gained, benefits felt and prayers answered.


How would you describe the love of God to a stranger? How does it differ from human love?By way of background or to stimulate ideas you could play Bob Marley – ‘One Love’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdB-8eLEW8g







1John 4 7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

How does love mean we know God? What does it mean for us that God is love?

How do you feel about the idea that people who don’t know God don’t know real love? Clearly most people demonstrate love at least in some situations, including those who deny God and Christ. How do we understand this verse in that context?

9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins,

How does the life of Jesus show us God’s love?

Why is it important that God loved us first?

What does it mean for us that God‘s love is not about what we do for him but what he has done for us?

11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. 13 This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his

How can God’s love be made complete in us?

What three tests does John give us for determining whether ‘we live in him and he in us’?

Why is it so important that we love each other as Christians?

How does love for each other make God’s love visible to those around us? (compare Jn13v34-35)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdB-8eLEW8g

Son to be the Saviour of the world. 15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God.

Why do we think this is often so hard?

How does God’s love for you motivate you to love others?

In what practical ways can you show God’s love this weak?

16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 17 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

It is important to understand the difference between the concept of revering God, which is often translated ‘fear of the Lord’ which is really respect, awe and the fear of being unloving towards God and losing His closeness, and the fear spoken of in these verses, which is a fear of an unpredictable, unloving and unmerciful God.

How do we rely on God’s love?

What difference to everyday life does reliance on His love mean?

What fears do we have that might be driven out by truly understanding and accepting God’s love for us?

How can we overcome our fears?

Why is it important to have confidence about judgment?How is such confidence possible, whilst also being humble and aware of our sin?

19 We love because he first loved us. 20 If we say we love God yet hate a brother or sister, we are liars. For if we do not love a fellow believer, whom we have seen, we cannot love God, whom we have not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love one another.

Why is it impossible to love God and hate a fellow Christian?Not all Christians are easy to love! - What can we do when we struggle with loving someone?

What does it mean for us that God loves first?

Prayer

Pray for those on our hearts who we would like to see become Christians.Spend some time in worship and thanksgiving for the love of God.Pray for the Holy Spirit to fill us with His love so we can love others like he loves us.Lead the group in a time of repentance for times we have not loved our brothers and sisters. (Moment of silence/ writing and washing clean/burning/shredding…)

10. Asking GodTime to share from last time



Get the group to think about what would make a perfect day for them while you play this song: ‘Perfect Day' BBC charity single’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDirNhQ1Gq0 Discuss what your perfect days would be. How does the idea of a perfect day enhance you view of heaven?







1 John 5 1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Messiah is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. 2 This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. 3 In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,

What commands of God can feel burdensome?

Why aren’t God’s commands burdensome in reality?

4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

What is overcoming the world?

How does belief in Jesus help us overcome the world?

6 This is the one who came by water and blood -Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 7 For there are three that testify: 8 the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. 9 We accept human testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God,

These verses appear strangeWater and blood may be baptism and crucifixion, but I prefer John’s own words at the cross as an explanation John 19:34 Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. 35 The man who

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDirNhQ1Gq0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDirNhQ1Gq0

which he has given about his Son. 10 Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony. Whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son.

saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. – If this is what john is alluding to, why is the cross so important as a testimony of Jesus??

11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.

What is eternal life? In what ways does knowing we have eternal life change the way we live?

In what way does someone we know who doesn’t believe in Jesus not have life? How does this make us feel?

14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us - whatever we ask we know that we have what we asked of him.

How do we know what is according to His will?

How does the rest of 1 John help us with some principles of what to ask for?

What might God’s will be for us?

What might we start praying for if we took these verses more seriously?

What do you think Jesus would pray for you?

Prayer

Pray for those on our hearts who we would like to see become Christians.Pray for an eternal perspective to life.Pray for the things that you realised you could be asking for in line with His will that you haven’t been.

11. Helping the sinnerTime to share from last time A chance to reflect on what we have done since the last meeting; gathering lessons learnt, experience gained, benefits felt and prayers answered.


Can you remember a time when you received help in a time of need? What was so helpful?By way of background or to stimulate ideas you could play: ’Help’ by the Beatles https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQv4OQJJEZg






1John 5 16 If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that you should pray about that. 17 All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death.

The sin that leads to death has many interpretations – some see it as an unforgivable sin such as renouncing Jesus, but it could be a sin that has resulted in actual death, i.e. don’t pray for the dead. It is important not to be distracted by this but to concentrate on the main theme of praying for sinners

How can we pray and help lapsed Christians without rejection and condemnation?

How have others helped us turn back from sin?

18 We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them.

‘Continue to sin’ from the context of 1 John, and what he has said earlier, does not mean the absence of sin, but probably sinning without shame or repentance.

What does it mean that the evil one cannot harm us, when we experience persecution and suffering?

19 We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. 20 We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

We often hear that ‘God is in control’, but the Bible says the evil one is. God is sovereign and will judge the sin of the world, but he is not controlling it. Suffering is caused by the evil one not by God’s plans

How does the evil one being in control of the world change our understanding of …?

- suffering- prayer- mission

21 Dear children, keep yourselves from idols. What are the idols of this world

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQv4OQJJEZg

that the evil one wants us to follow?

Which areas of your life are you concerned may be becoming idols?

Prayer

Pray for those on our hearts who we would like to see become Christians.Pray for those who have fallen away from a living relationship with Jesus.

You may find it helpful to use this prayer on their behalf or for yourselves.

Almighty and most merciful Father, We have wandered and strayed from your ways like lost sheep.We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have offended against your holy laws. We have left undone those things that we ought to have done; and we have done those things that we ought not to have done; and there is no health in us. But you, O Lord, have mercy upon us sinners. Spare those who confess their faults. Restore those who are penitent, according to your promises declared to mankind in Christ Jesus our Lord. And grant, O most merciful Father, for His sake, that we may live a disciplined, righteous and godly life, to the glory of your holy name. Amen. From the ASB

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